fake gentry

Xie Hong naturally refused Xiao Xi Yin's request.

He only wants to be a scholar, not a charlatan.

With just a few words, he shifted the little kid's attention to what to eat for dinner, and then borrowed Xi Xuan's Jiao Wei Qin to play a tune for everyone.

The moment the prelude began, Xi Xuan trembled.

It's not the same tune as yesterday.

Xi Zhong and Ge Hong also tensed up.

The melody flashed through Xie Hong's mind, and the music flowed from his hands like a spring, immersing everyone in it.

Xi Zhongqing couldn't help but shake his head and flick his fingers on his leg, while Ge Hong also fell into some kind of memory.

Xi Xuan listened, completely captivated.

She finally gave in.

The curtains were silent. Even the servants and guards outside, who were tending the stove and brewing wine, were drawn to the scene, as if a beautiful melancholy had overwhelmed them.

Ah Ling and Ah Heng were talking quietly to each other.

"Ah Ling, has your husband taken a fancy to Lady Xi?"

"How would I know?"

I think so.

After a long while, Xie Hong stopped playing, and it took everyone a while to come back to their senses.

Ge Hong had heard Xie Hong play no fewer than ten pieces in the past few days, but he still exclaimed, "The beauty of Feng Zhi's zither playing is unparalleled in Jiangzuo."

Xi Xuan suddenly spoke up: "Young Master Xie, this song must be famous by now, right? Could it also be one of your playful creations?"

Xie Hong quickly laughed and said, "I call this piece a myth, so it's not exactly a game."

For a fleeting moment, Xi Xuan considered leaving her seat.

This person is absolutely despicable.

Xi Zhong, knowing his proud and arrogant niece well, immediately smoothed things over, saying, "Fengzhi, what is the story behind this piece?"

Xie Hong blinked twice and began to fabricate a story: "The King of Qin unified the six kingdoms at a young age, and the Xiongnu, intimidated by his power, presented Princess Yu Shu to him..."

"Hundreds of years later, Meng Yi, reincarnated, entered the First Emperor's Mausoleum. The Qin Consort Li looked just as she had before, and the two died embracing each other."

Xi Xuan was moved to tears and almost couldn't control herself, but Ge Hong suddenly stood up: "Feng Zhi, is there really an elixir of immortality?"

Xie Hong wished he could slap himself twice. How could I have forgotten there was a cultivator here?

"Mr. Chikawa, these are all legends and should not be taken seriously."

Ge Hong clearly didn't believe it. If it weren't for someone else, he would have pestered Xie Hong to get to the bottom of it.

Xi Zhong sighed, "With such a precious tree in the Xie family, how can the family not prosper? Fengzhi, on the first day of the sixth month, you will accompany me to Huangshiyan to attend the debate held by Zhai Daoyuan. I will make you famous throughout Jiangzuo."

Xie Hong was taken aback.

Isn't Zhai Daoyuan the same person as Zhai Tang of the Zhai clan of Xunyang? A native of Chaisang, he was the most hardcore hermit in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty. There is an idiom called "Zhai Tang Yin Cao," which specifically refers to a person of noble character.

The so-called "pure criticism" was similar to the activities of scholars, such as monthly critiques.

How can a member of an aristocratic family make a name for himself? He can seek out a renowned scholar for his opinion, and a single comment can determine his entire life.

Cao Cao rose to prominence by virtue of being described as a capable minister in times of peace and a cunning hero in times of chaos.

This is also the origin of the Nine-Rank System. Each prefecture had a Grand Censor and each county had a Censor to determine people's ranks. The evaluation of people was changed from being judged by famous people in the folk to being judged by official Censors.

In the early years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and the position of Zhongzheng (a high-ranking official) was practically a formality. The rules for ranking scholars were still in effect, but had become a mere formality. Therefore, the opinions of famous scholars became the way to select talents.

This was the most lively period of public discussion and critique in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty.

"A month ago, I visited Wensi Gong in Nanchang City. He said that he would hold a literary gathering at Huangshiyan in Lushan on the first day of the sixth lunar month, and invited many famous scholars to participate in Zhai Daoyuan's discussion. I am also among those invited. If I go, I will surely become famous."

Ge Hong chuckled and said, "Master Xi, Tu Wensi also invited me. He organized this gathering to make his grandson Tu Xiu famous. How will Feng Zhi feel if she goes?"

Xi Zhong was taken aback, then looked regretful.

Xie Hong quickly laughed and said, "If I go, wouldn't that be like me overshadowing the host?"

The expressions of the people inside the curtain froze, and they all looked at Xie Hong.

"Fengzhi, you always have witty remarks, I'm not surprised anymore."

Xie Hong smiled.

Tu Wensi is none other than Tu Qin, the Grand Marshal, a founding general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He served under seven emperors and lived to the age of ninety. He was granted the title of Marquis of Xinwu and was currently stationed in Yuzhang, with his headquarters in Wuyang Port. He is the ancestor of the Tu clan in the eight southeastern provinces of China.

The most popular activity among the gentry during the Jin Dynasty was holding various gatherings and outings, known as "elegant gatherings." These could be attended by three to five people, or even thirty to fifty people.

The most famous example is the Orchid Pavilion Gathering organized by Wang Xizhi in the ninth year of the Yonghe era, where he wrote the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, considered the finest example of running script calligraphy in the world.

As the sun set, the Xi family prepared a sumptuous meal, and Xie Hong's best dish was naturally roasted rabbit.

After dinner, as darkness fell, Xie Hong took the opportunity to leave, calling Li Shi and Liu Chong to check if the ice-making was successful.

When he saw that all the spring water in the small pottery jar had frozen into ice, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It became.

Liu Chong was completely stunned, and a hint of fear finally appeared in his eyes as he looked at Xie Hong.

Brother Xie, could you perhaps be a star descended to earth?

Xie Hong nodded to Li Shi, and soon Li Shi brought up the things she had prepared in advance.

Xie Hong washed his hands, then smashed the earthenware jar, revealing a large chunk of transparent ice inside.

Cut the ice into two pieces with a knife, then scrape it into fine ice shards and pile them into a cone shape in a bowl for later use.

Then he started making other things.

Li had already cooked the sour cheese, the honey was readily available, and the dried fruits were naturally obtained from Xi's side, including raisins and some candied fruit, which Li had chopped up.

Xie Hongxian added half a bowl of honey to the yogurt, stirred it well, and it became snow-white yogurt.

He tasted it and found it to be just right, then poured it evenly over the crushed ice in the bowl, added a layer of honey, and sprinkled on some fruit pieces.

"Li, you and A-Ling and A-Heng each have a bowl, and your younger brother should take a bowl to Chen San."

Liu Chong swallowed hard, grabbed the two bowls without a word, and ran off. Li Shi, however, was grateful and apprehensive: "This servant dares not eat the same thing as my lord."

"Eat it when I tell you to."

After a few cups of tea, Xie Hong returned to the curtained area carrying a red lacquered tray. On the tray were five celadon bowls, piled high with snow-white contents.

Xi Zhong felt a chill run down his spine and exclaimed in surprise, "Feng Zhi, what is this?"

Xie Hong smiled and said, "Iced and crispy."

Xi Zhong opened his mouth, his first thought being to ask where the ice came from, but he swallowed the words back down.

Ge Hong stared blankly at the tray, frozen in place. Saltpeter could indeed make ice—what an incredibly sophisticated alchemy technique!

Thinking back to the story Xie Hong had just told, Ge Hong became even more convinced that an elixir of immortality existed in this world.

Xi Yin ignored all that and pounced on him: "Brother Xie, is this the ice cream you said was even better than roasted rabbit?"

Xie Hong smiled and handed him a bowl, then offered Xi Xuan a bowl with both hands.

Xi Xuan first smelled a sweet and sour milky aroma. Inside the bowl was a paste-like substance that was constantly emitting white steam, and a ring of fine water droplets clung to the rim of the bowl. She had never seen such food before.

She had eaten chilled fruits in Yanzhou, but even for the Xi family, the number of times they could use ice in the summer was very limited.

Xi Zhong couldn't wait to pick it up and take a spoonful. His voice lacked its usual cheerfulness, replaced by a cautious seriousness: "It really is ice. Feng Zhi, where did you get this ice?"

Xie Hong smiled without saying a word, and picked up a bowl of ice cream to eat.

Xi Xuan carefully picked up the wooden spoon, scooped up a small spoonful, and put it into her mouth.

The ice cream melted on the tip of my tongue.

Cool, smooth, and a delightful blend of sweet and sour, the refreshing sweetness of honey spreads up from the sides of the tongue, followed by the base flavor of yogurt, with a slow, lingering sweetness in the coolness.

She suddenly turned to look at Xie Hong, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xi Yin ate the fastest, finishing her bowl in just a few bites. Then, she watched longingly as her older sister licked her spoon and then her lips, asking softly, "Sister, can I eat some more?"

Just as Xi Xuan was about to give him hers, Xie Hong handed his bowl to Xi Yin instead. The little guy happily took the bowl and buried his head in his food.

Xi Zhong raised his head and looked at Xie Hong: "Feng Zhi, I've lived to be fifty-eight, it's like I've lived in vain."

Ge Hong silently scooped up a spoonful without saying a word, just chewing the dried fruit crumbs in his mouth. Suddenly, he looked intently at Xie Hong: "If Fengzhi's ice-making method can spread throughout the world, all those suffering from the summer heat will be blessed."