Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 235 Nobody Asks If My Porridge Is Warm

The following morning, the frost was even more intense.

A thin layer of white frost covered the roof tiles of Tianqing Temple, gleaming with a cool light in the rising sun.

The sound of monks sweeping their brooms across the stone path came from outside the window, making the meditation room even more tranquil.

Lu Beigu did not recite the Analects aloud, but was carefully reading the Spring and Autumn Annals in the morning light outside the window.

He obtained this book from Zhou Mingyuan's family library and has been reading it ever since.

However, times have changed, and he is no longer in the state of having just transmigrated to this world more than half a year ago. He has already read through the entire "Spring and Autumn Annals: Anthology and Examples" several times, which previously seemed very profound, and is not far from fully understanding it.

In the Spring and Autumn section of Mo Yi, Lu Beigu planned to finish studying the "Spring and Autumn Annals Collection and Compilation Examples" in the next few days, and then start referring to the teaching plan version of "Essentials of Spring and Autumn Mo Yi" given by Mr. Bai Sha to consult and read the box of "Spring and Autumn Annals Respect for the King" given by Zhang Fangping.

On the one hand, "The Essence of Honoring the King in the Spring and Autumn Annals" is the most authoritative and comprehensive work on the Spring and Autumn Annals in this era, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to pass the imperial examination; on the other hand, Lu Beigu carried this huge box all the way from Hejiang to Kaifeng, and it would be a real shame not to read it.

He had originally intended to invite Cui Wenjing to read together in the morning, but Cui Wenjing had apparently gone off to do something last night and hadn't returned to Tianqing Temple to rest.

"Tuk-tuk."

A slow, deliberate knocking sounded in front of the courtyard.

Lu Beigu got up and opened the door, and a cool morning breeze carrying frost rushed in.

Two people stood outside the door; they were Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi.

Cheng Hao, still wearing his slightly worn blue cloth robe, smiled warmly: "Brother Lu."

“Last night I thought of my brother’s temporary residence at Tianqing Temple, which is not far from the Imperial Academy. Today my brother and I are going to the Imperial Academy to listen to the teacher’s lecture, so I thought I would invite my brother to come with me.”

He stepped aside, revealing Cheng Yi, who had a serious expression, behind him.

Cheng Yi nodded slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on Lu Beigu's face, and said earnestly, "Master Lianxi is a man of profound learning. It would be beneficial to pay him a visit and listen to the true path of the Way."

He specifically emphasized the phrase "the right path," clearly indicating that he still harbored the intention to guide Lu Beigu back to the right path, based on Lu Beigu's statement at the Qingsong Society gathering that day about "using both benevolent and tyrannical methods."

Looking at Cheng Yi's serious expression, Lu Beigu felt that the other party was like a missionary trying to save lost sheep.
However, Lu Beigu didn't care about any of that. He simply said...

"I do indeed intend to visit Mr. Song Tang, the newly appointed Assistant Instructor of the Four Gates of the Imperial Academy and a fellow townsman from Sichuan, today. To be able to travel with you two would be to pay homage to Mr. Lianxi and also to visit the place where Assistant Instructor Song is lecturing. It would be a win-win situation, and I couldn't ask for more!"

“It seems you have a special connection with the Imperial Academy,” Cheng Hao said. “We have also heard of Assistant Instructor Song. His book, ‘Northwest Folk Sayings,’ criticizes current affairs and demonstrates his practical talent. That’s excellent. You will surely return home with a wealth of knowledge today.”

He turned towards the temple and, upon hearing the sound, put his palms together and said to the monks who came over, "We have disturbed the Venerable Master's meditation; we will take our leave now."

The three of them walked out of Tianqing Temple along the frost-covered stone path.

Kaifeng was gradually awakening in the early morning, with smoke rising from chimneys in the streets and alleys, but the chill was still biting.

As you walk to a slightly wider street west of Guanqiao, you'll see several steaming breakfast stalls set up along the roadside.

The stove fire was blazing, and thick porridge or soup was bubbling in the large pot. Snowy white steam rose from the steamer, filling the air with an enticing aroma that instantly dispelled the chill of the morning.

The stall owners were mostly ordinary people dressed in coarse cloth short clothes, who quickly and efficiently served their customers.

A woman wearing a cloth skirt greeted them warmly, "Young gentlemen, it's freezing cold. Would you like a bowl of hot porridge to warm yourselves up? We have bean porridge, millet porridge, and freshly steamed 'Jade Tip Noodles'." Cheng Hao stopped and said, "It's still early, and the chill is biting. Why don't we have some hot food here to warm our stomachs before continuing our journey?"

"That's fine, as catching a cold on an empty stomach is not good for nourishing qi."

Cheng Yi glanced at the steaming stall and nodded.

Although he emphasized self-cultivation, he also deeply understood that the body is the foundation of morality, and he did not stubbornly reject basic needs.

The three of them then walked up to the woman's stall.

On the stall were several large earthenware basins, each containing a thick, simmered bean porridge, millet porridge, and a milky-white almond and ginger soup.

Next to it, in the steamer, were freshly steamed "Jade Tip Noodles," a white and plump noodle dish similar to steamed buns, but with a wheat aroma.

On the other side were several small dishes containing chopped pickled vegetables and preserved cucumbers.

"Three bowls of hot bean porridge, six jade-tip noodles, and a dish of pickled cucumbers." The eldest, Cheng Hao, was clearly planning to treat everyone.

"okay!"

The woman deftly served porridge, noodles, and arranged them on plates.

The three of them sat down at the small wooden table set up next to the stall.

Lu Beigu picked up the rough earthenware bowl, the warmth instantly dispelling the chill from his fingertips. The bean porridge was cooked until very soft, carrying the unique aroma of beans, simple yet filling.

The jade-tip noodles are quite soft and delicious, filled with a mixture of chopped turnips and mustard greens. Served with savory pickled cucumbers, they are especially delicious on a cold morning.

For some reason, Lu Beigu suddenly remembered the passage in "Six Records of a Floating Life" about a young girl hiding porridge.

"Nobody asks if my porridge is warm. It's time to start thinking about settling down. I can't end up like Jiang Xinghuo."

Looking at the porridge, Lu Beigu pondered to himself.

“My dear brother, you reside in Tianqing Temple, a quiet and elegant place, which is indeed an excellent place to prepare for the exam.”

As Cheng Hao ate, he said, “You must be aware of the current state of the Imperial Academy, my brother. The sons of the powerful and wealthy are mostly indulging in pleasure, and the academic atmosphere is lax. It has become common practice for professors and lecturers to be nominal and receive salaries. On the other hand, the Imperial Academy next door, thanks to the educational reforms during the Qingli era, now has more than 600 students, divided into two departments: Classics and Administrative Affairs. They have monthly and annual examinations with strict regulations. Although their writing style may be somewhat ‘unconventional,’ their desire to learn is much stronger than that of the Imperial Academy.”

"It was truly not easy for Mr. Lianxi to be in such a situation."

Cheng Yi chimed in, his tone clearly indignant and protective of his teacher: "The students of the Imperial Academy, and even some of the lecturers, are obsessed with piling up obscure allusions and using obscure language in the 'Imperial Academy style,' regarding your studies on the origin of the universe and the cultivation of your mind as 'mysterious and empty,' and they often criticize you. Even in this situation, you were able to maintain your integrity and write 'Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate' and 'The Book of Penetration,' taking 'sincerity' as the foundation and establishing yourself as the ultimate standard between heaven and earth. Your integrity and scholarship are all the more noble."

He clearly resented the Imperial Academy's disregard for Zhou Dunyi's scholarship.

Lu Beigu nodded in agreement: "Master Lianxi is like a lotus that emerges from the mud unsullied and is washed by clear water without being seductive. His 'On the Love of Lotus' already reveals his true feelings, and his 'Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate' has set a precedent for a new generation with lofty aspirations. I admire him greatly, and it is a great honor to be introduced to him by my two elder brothers and to receive his teachings in person today."

What he was thinking was that, on the eve of a profound transformation in Confucianism, being able to get up close and personal with this already mature founder of Neo-Confucianism was of extraordinary significance.

After all, although the Imperial Academy is currently very powerful, if he takes a longer-term view and interacts more with people like Zhou Dunyi and the Cheng brothers, it will be most beneficial for him to participate in the Confucian revival movement and subsequently change Neo-Confucianism.

(End of this chapter)