Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 681 This world shouldn't be like this, Ah Chen.

With his keen sense of smell, Xia Lin arrived at the gathering of young people early on. He was called a senior while sitting inside, which was somewhat ridiculous, since it seemed like only a few years ago that he was called a promising young man, but looking back, it had been fifteen years.

His influence in the literary world has long since faded, much like a has-been singer; while his works are still widely known, the person himself is rarely mentioned anymore.

Many people came to the Jinling Poetry Gathering today, but no one recognized Xia Lin. Every time he appeared in public, he was either in military uniform with a long beard or dressed in finery, exuding wealth and luxury. Now, he had his hair cut and his beard shaved, and he was just a clean-cut "middle-aged" uncle with a scholarly air about him.

It's not that he's really an uncle or anything, but the average age of people attending the Jinling Poetry Gathering is only eighteen. How can a thirty-year-old old man be called "uncle" by these eighteen- or nineteen-year-old kids?
"Senior, why don't you come forward and write a few poems or essays so that we can see what you've got?"

When someone came over to chat with Xia Lin and the conversation drifted to this point, Xia Lin just smiled and shook her head: "I don't have that talent. I just participated back then and am just here to take a look now."

"I still don't know your name, senior?"

"A nobody, a scholar who can't pass the imperial examinations, an ordinary person who can't afford to live." Xia Lin waved his hand with a smile and said, "It would be a joke to say that."

The young man simply smiled and cupped his hands in greeting without saying much. He felt that the man in front of him was definitely not a scholar who couldn't pass the imperial examinations, but since the man wouldn't say, it would be impolite to ask further.

The person hosting today's poetry gathering is quite famous; he's a great talent from Jinling City, whose courtesy name is Zhiwen. His real name, Xia Lin, is unknown, and he didn't ask in detail anyway.

The poetry gatherings of today are very different from those of his time. You see, he himself was the one who used poetry gatherings to select scholars, but now that path has been completely blocked. It is no longer possible to select scholars through such crooked means. So, the poetry gatherings of the past still had some political agenda, but now they have almost become a collection of showing off, pretentiousness and ostentation.

Of course, this isn't a complete rejection; there are actually quite a few people who will promote their ideas and views on society.

Although the laws and politics of the Great Wei are currently in a mess, everything in the world has two sides. A mess is accompanied by relative freedom. As long as ordinary people do not make outrageous attacks and insults, no one will care if they make normal comments on the government or the policies of the court.

Writing rebellious poems is fine too, since people talk nonsense every day anyway. Even if someone writes a rebellious poem, it's just to make people laugh. They'll be arrested by the Jingzhao Prefecture the next day, given a reprimand, and then released. They might even be able to go back and have dinner that night.

Therefore, under such a high degree of openness, the cultural atmosphere of the Great Wei Dynasty actually reached a relatively peak.

Xia Lin came here today because he heard that a large number of scholars in Jinling City have recently become unemployed. Unemployed scholars are a source of instability, but can they be dealt with directly? They are just a side effect of the policy. We need to find a way to solve this thorny problem.

Therefore, he had to implement the basic policy of going deep into the grassroots, go among the young people to listen to their ideas, and then find ways to solve the problems they raised.

"Actually, there are quite a few pretty women here." The guy who had been eating nearby sneakily approached Xia Lin and asked, "Which family's girl have you taken a fancy to, sir?"

Xia Lin glanced at him sideways and laughed, "You came here just to see girls?"

"Not entirely." After saying that, he took out a small package from the side, quietly opened it and showed it to Xia Lin: "Brother, take a look."

Xia Lin picked it up and found that it was full of handwritten booklets. He opened them and began to read. The contents were quite reactionary. They were all illustrated pictures of aristocratic families committing atrocities. The booklets compiled all the evil deeds committed by aristocratic families throughout history and attributed them to the people of today, presenting them one by one.

In other words, everything in the story is real, including the characters and objects. The only slight inconsistency is the timing, but even this small inconsistency makes the reader's hands tremble and their anger uncontrollable.

"I'm going to distribute these to them later," the young man said, squinting his eyes. "What do you think, brother?"

"Who asked you to do this?"

"Haha, of course they're doing their jobs after getting paid. But I don't think these pamphlets are good enough; they'll just treat them as entertainment at best."

"Oh? Do you have any other ideas?"

“Of course I do,” the young man said, shaking his head. “However, your identity is very suspicious right now, so I can’t tell you. You need to give me a deposit.”

Xia Lin laughed and took out a ten-tael note from his pocket, handing it over: "Is this acceptable?"

“Sure, sure.” The young man took the money and whispered in Xia Lin’s ear, “As the saying goes, ‘Many fish crossing the river are scattered,’ these people are all loose and undisciplined all day long. What use are they for poetry and songs? I plan to bring those people together.”

Xia Lin followed his gaze and looked outside. He saw the people on the street selling paintings, writing letters, drafting legal documents, and even storytelling scholars in plain clothes. After glancing at them, he turned back in astonishment and said, "Them?"

"Exactly."

As the young man spoke, he started rubbing his hands together again. Xia Lin shook his head and handed him another ten taels of silver: "That's all. You've taken away my entire month's allowance."

"Alright, brother, let's talk in private for a moment, this place is no fun."

Xia Lin naturally stood up with him, pointing at the bundle: "Your comic books?"

"Useless stuff, just leave it here. Anyway, I'll get my money if I leave it here." After going downstairs, the young man immediately became relaxed. When they reached a place with better lighting, Xia Lin could see clearly that the young man was not tall and had a sallow complexion, clearly indicating that he hadn't eaten properly in a long time.

He smiled and said, "Let's go, shall I treat you to a meal?"

"Are you serious, brother?" The young man's eyes lit up: "Then it's a deal, I'm going to eat and take some with me."

Eat, eat whatever you want.

"Okay, I know a place where the food is delicious and the portions are generous, so don't worry about the cost."

"rest assured."

Following the young man, they wandered through the alleyways until they came to an inconspicuous little noodle stall, the kind run by an elderly couple, the kind that looked incredibly cheap.

"Uncle Xie, give me two huge bowls of sour noodles, two flatbreads, and a big bowl of wontons!"

When the two bowls, each bigger than Xia Lin's head, were placed on the table, the boy didn't say a word, just lowered his head and started eating. After slurping down a large bowl of noodles, his complexion improved slightly, and he seemed to have regained some strength.

"Brother, let me tell you, the world is sick these days. It's a disease of parasites." He wiped his mouth and started eating the flatbread, the dry flatbread making him stretch his neck for what seemed like two miles.

Xia Lin quickly handed him the wontons. He picked them up, took a sip of the soup, and ate the wontons before saying, "Brother, I don't know if you know Xia Lin or Xia Daosheng."

"I recognize you, so what?"

"In this world," the young man said, taking another bite of his flatbread and a sip of soup, "only he treats people like human beings. I am from Heluo, his fellow townsman. Back then, when the Central Plains were flooded, my whole family died, and my only sister was taken away by the landlord in the village, her fate unknown. I have a disability in my leg, and the landlord's family didn't even want me. I was supposed to starve to death by the roadside. Fortunately, Xia Daosheng led his troops through the area. He distributed food, set up tents for us, and treated our illnesses and wounds. It was clear that he wanted to save the world."

Hearing this, Xia Lin's eyes reddened. The feeling of having one's hidden ideals seen through and praised so highly was truly heart-wrenching.

"But he won't do."

Before Xia Lin could even feel moved, he was taken aback by his question: "Why?"

“Brother, the world is sick, infested with worms. If we compare the world to a person, it is terminally ill, its heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, intestines, bones, and skin are all infested with worms. What kind of divinely inspired doctor could save it? It would only prolong the life of this person who is destined to die. Xia Daosheng did his best, I can tell, and he must have had that pamphlet distributed, but I still say it's useless. He has gone down the wrong path.”

Xia Lin was taken aback: "Did we take the wrong road?"

“Yes, he’s a good person and can’t bear to kill. But how can you not kill? You have to kill. So I’ve been thinking about this these past few days. He can’t bring himself to do it, so I’ll help him.”

Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the authorities?

"Do you know who I am? How are you going to sue me? Besides, your face looks like that of a gentleman with all the essentials of the I Ching, unlike some people who have only half of the I Ching, making them seem like they're completely incompatible. Your appearance reflects your heart." The kid chuckled, "That's why I'm telling you this. I want to gather more people and do something big. Even if it doesn't work out, it'll be enough to make an example of someone."

"Then tell me, what do you want?"

"Give me some money." The young man suddenly revealed his true intentions: "Can you give me three thousand taels of silver?"

"We've only known each other for less than an hour, and you're already making such outrageous demands? How can I possibly trust you?"

"That's gambling."

Xia Lin laughed: "But how can you be so sure I have money?"

"Stop joking. Although you are dressed simply, the jade pendant hanging on your belt is made of Kunlun blood jade. It's worth tens of thousands of taels of silver on the market."

Xia Lin exclaimed "Oh!", took off the jade pendant and held it in her hand, slightly lost in thought: "A friend gave it to me."

"What kind of friend is so generous? With an item worth ten thousand taels of silver?"

“He was a gentleman of heaven and earth, but he is no longer here. Before he passed away, he gave me this as a memento, so that our fifteen years of acquaintance would not have been in vain.”

"Oh... I see. Alright then, it seems you don't have any money either. Never mind, thank you for your hospitality! I'll take my leave after I finish eating."

(End of this chapter)