Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 25: Drunken Flower Shade is Easy to Write, Sad Eyebrow Preface is Hard to Write Naturally

"Speaking of Zui Hua Yin, I have some impressions of it." The Zui Hua Yin that Guan Yin was familiar with was a ci tune, not a qu tune. "It seems like I've seen it somewhere."

The bookcase was covered with mold due to the increasingly humid weather. Its green color set against the brown and yellow made it look like an ancient pine tree was cut down and placed in the house.

Guan Yin stood up and searched for a while. He remembered that before he calmly graded the papers for students, there was a time like this - students were called to the office, and he was still busy looking for papers.

Until... the old teacher next to him stood up and found the student's paper in a few seconds. He did not forget to reflect his emotions at the time while flipping through the paper.

Cheng Heng was also anxious, but he was afraid that his impatience would tear the rice paper. Finally, he had to stand aside and wait until the moonlight shone obliquely and Guan Yin had not figured out what was going on before he reached out his hand.

"Hey, that's it."

"But her name is Bei Zui Hua Yin. I don't know if she is the same Zui Hua Yin as the one you mentioned."

Guan Yin spread the rice paper flat on the table, patted it gently, and signaled Cheng Heng to look over here.

(Enter Taoist Bai Yue, holding a whisk)
[Nan Dian Jiang Chun] In the ink-stained Jiangnan, the tourists have grown old after several rains and mists. The pine forest is lush and green, and a rider returns to the old road. The wind is fine and the sky is blue, so you say that spring is leaving early. The heavenly palace is far away, and the cranes have fairy-like faces. Who can they laugh at for years?

I was originally from Huizhou Prefecture. Fortunately, I met Zhenwen and was enlightened by the immortal. At the age of fourteen, I came to Baiyue Mountain, under Zixiao Rock, in Yuxu Palace. I became a disciple and worshipped Zhenwu. Now it has been forty years. An old friend of Guan came to pray for the souls of the dead. It is the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the Zhongyuan Festival. The Earth God forgives sins, so it is the best time to open the altar and teach. (Calling) Where is the Taoist friend?
(Zhengsheng speaks) The riverbank has leaked due to heavy rain, so I am here to pray for the souls of the dead. (Sees) I have not prepared all the incense, flowers and fruits, so I hope the immortal can do it for me. (Bows) Thank you for praying for the souls of the dead.

(Bows, outside) You are here for the people of Huizhou, why bother? I will raise the prayer flags with my disciples, worship the deity, chant scriptures and offer food. As the saying goes: For a peaceful country and a peaceful people, the people should pray together, and for a carefree life, they should cultivate themselves.

(Next, Zhengsheng pays respects to the emperor)
[Beizui Huayin] There were few years of peace and laughter, I invited the sky to drink three cups and got drunk, which turned into dusk and spring. It is hard to escape, and I have failed the appearance of youth.

(Outside, with all the disciples, set up three altars, offer incense, flowers, tea and fruits, set up banners and hang notices)

(Sighs, outside) Who says fate is predetermined? Rich or poor, fate makes no difference. Even if you are in trouble for a while, if you have a clear conscience, God will investigate. My fellow Taoist priests, listen to my words: If you study hard, God will not let you down. If you work hard for the people, you will be brilliant.

(Zhengsheng bows) Thank you for the teachings, Immortal.

[Preface to Nan Huamei] Singing about fishermen and woodcutters is better than studying in the cold classroom under the heavy waves. Talking about my life's aspirations, I almost cried. Who would ask where the sad voice comes from? It's hard to find the fragrant grass at the end of the world. The horse's hooves are messy on the way home, relying on half of the body to be proud.

(Inside, three drums are played. Outside, five elders wear hats and robes, and all the disciples play music. Dan comes on stage.)
[Northern Happy Migration of Orioles] (Chorus) Suddenly, clouds rise, and the colorful banners are raised, and the southern palace is ranked high. The sweet dew spreads to guide the dead souls to ascend to the higher realms. Suddenly, the souls float, and arrive at the Golden Gate, Jade Trees and Jade. Bright and clear, at that time, the suffering is saved and lifted into the layers of heaven.

(Zhengsheng and Dan greet each other) I hope the souls of the deceased can be reborn and the flood will not breach the shore of Huizhou.

(Outside bowing) Taiyi Tianzun sits in Dongyang, with willow branches in his hands sprinkling nectar.

(All disciples bow) He rides on a nine-headed blue lion and carries the dead to heaven.

(Outside bows) Taiyi Tianzun descends from the Purple Court, and the long night of the Nine Netherworlds shines with light.

(All disciples bow) A thousand sins can be eliminated by just reciting the name of the Heavenly Venerable, and all sins can be wiped out by just one scroll of scriptures.

[Preface to Nan Huamei] (Outside) No need to cry out, save the drowning from the raging waves. Break through the underworld of Fengdu, escape from the sea of suffering. Discussing rewards and punishments, why leave it to the underworld? Rewards for good and evil are tested in the human world. Who can comfort the wronged souls? The upright official peeks into the mirror lake. (Outside sighs, Dan, Zhengsheng, and all the outside disciples bow)
[Northern Team] (Dan, Zhengsheng) Pray earnestly to the heavens, and pray for the return of old neighbors and fellow countrymen. May the crops be abundant and the work less, may the rains be favorable and the winds be favorable, may the year be prosperous, may the tides be calm and the moon be bright.

"Generally speaking, the combined north and south sets of the Huangzhong Palace began to be used after the middle of the Yuan Dynasty. Before that, the southern and northern sets were separate." The first sentence that Cheng Heng read brought out the era of Guan Yin that had never been determined.

Feeling the surprise in the latter's eyes, Cheng Heng was stunned: "Aren't you a history student? You are not sure what era you are in now?"

"I have never had the opportunity to travel far, and the objects I come into contact with on a daily basis are so diverse that it is difficult to determine an exact age at the moment."

"Oh, so I told you to go out more..."

The conversation between the two people became awkward again. Finally, Cheng Heng continued to talk about his professional field: "This scene is very similar to the 40th scene of Peach Blossom Fan, "Entering the Dao". Of course, after all, they use the same couplet, so it is normal to feel similar. The stories are quite different."

"Yeah." Guan Yin nodded as if he understood, then rolled up the roll of thin paper and stood up.

"You said that a lot of the content in the author's writing is about yourself. Do you think this is the story of the original body's parents, or... the original body's desire for women to enter the government?"

This question was a bit tricky. Cheng Heng shrugged and said, "It's hard to say. It could just be a story. A talented man and a beautiful woman met by chance. There doesn't need to be too many reasons."

"It's just like the formulaic writing and domineering writing we read now, which doesn't require the author to have experience or empathy. Some of the opera literature is just like the formulaic writing now."

"For example, Wujia Slope and Fenhe Bay, The Kite Mistake and Phoenix Returns to the Nest..." Cheng Heng talked a lot. Guan Yin had not heard much about them. He just nodded and remembered them silently in his heart. "But in many cases, they can still reflect the times."

“So, I should ask, have there been any major floods that broke the dam over the years?”

"If you continue to read this content, if it is a simple natural disaster, there is no point in writing it."

"You mean, man-made disasters?" Guan Yin already had the answer in his mind. If it was a drought or an earthquake, there might be no solution in history, it would just be a natural disaster.

But floods are different. Instead of building dams and canals in advance, or building the Dujiangyan Irrigation System that has stood the test of thousands of years, water control has always been a constant topic for the Chinese people - if a dam breaks, it will inevitably be caused by man-made disasters.

"Yeah." Cheng Heng didn't have the maturity he had when he was "playing" the teacher. After jumping out of it, he pretended to be profound, "It has something to do with the officialdom, a man-made disaster."

"Corruption." After the two said this in unison, there was no further conversation and they looked straight out the window.

If it is corruption, then it will be difficult to deal with.

A line grabs it, just like the trumpet creeper outside the window. The roots on the ground are endless, the vines on the fence have thousands of tentacles, and they can bloom bright and colorful flowers, which makes people can't help but praise it.

But who can clearly distinguish between trumpet creeper and datura? Datura is also praised for its beauty, but it is ultimately poisonous and can harm people when used as medicine.

The sky gradually brightens, the moon sets in the west, and the trumpet creepers on the fence sway in the breeze...

(End of this chapter)