fake gentry

After learning that Ge Hong had informed Xie Hong about Zhang Shi, Zhou Guang told Xie Hong about some subsequent events.

Among them, the Luo and Zhang families had to bleed a lot of money to apologize.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Xie Hong will receive the two sums of money in ten days.

This was unavoidable, as it was a common rule among the gentry. If Xie Hong accepted this sum of money, it would mean that everything that had happened before was wiped clean.

Ge Hong and Xi Zhong were somewhat indignant on Xie Hong's behalf, but Xie Hong didn't take it seriously.

It's certainly a good thing to be able to get money, but I don't know how much it is.

Honey can only be harvested once a year, and the harvest from the refugees who came to the mountains these past few days has been much worse than before, so he is preparing to stop.

After deducting all expenses and payments, the rock honey harvest still left about a million coins.

This million dollars was actually a huge fortune. But Xie Hong was short of money, desperately short of money.

He can't be a celebrity who treats money like dirt.

Just look at what the Zhang family did. Don't the gentry love money? If they didn't love money, why would they scheme against themselves?

His only way to make money was through soap.

Not counting the use of saltpeter for ice making, this stuff simply couldn't be popularized on a large scale; it could only serve as an amazing selling point.

If soap is made well, it could become an industry, targeting the gentry. If they could produce alcohol, they could probably also make scented soap and perfume. As for the rest, Xie Hong couldn't do anything about it.

He can't handle cement, gunpowder, or cannons, let alone handcraft a nuclear bomb.

Time travelers are not omnipotent.

"As the head of the four clans of Yuzhang, the Luo family's actions are utterly disgraceful and have made them a laughingstock. It has brought shame to the entire Jiangzhou gentry."

Zhou Guang looked at Xie Hong and said, "If you, my lord, are still filled with resentment, I can make the other party suffer a great financial loss."

Xie Hong immediately declined.

Xi Xuan sat to one side, eating the ice cream in small bites with a small spoon, and glanced up at Xie Hong.

After discussing the matters concerning the Luo and Zhang families, and after everyone had almost finished eating the ice cream, Xie Hong got up and led everyone on a tour of his thatched cottage.

Ge Hong led them directly to the pine wood bathroom, laughing, "Gentlemen, this is the greatest pleasure in life."

After experiencing Xie Hong's bathroom, he completely fell in love with the feeling. He felt like he had wasted half his life.

No matter how many servants attend to her during her bath, it's nothing compared to the unbridled pleasure she gets from Xie Hong.

Cool spring water is drawn from the upstream stream through bamboo pipes, while steam rises from a large cauldron on one side. You can then lie down in the bath and adjust the water temperature at any time. Changing the water is as simple as pulling the stopper, eliminating the need for several people to carry it in wooden buckets.

Summer is alright, but you only realize how painful it is to change the water when showering in winter.

Xi Zhong suddenly turned to Xie Hong and said, "Fengzhi, I also want to build a bathroom like this when I get back."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guang looked up and said, "Thank you, young master. I would also like to have one repaired."

Xie Hong couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's actually very simple. The blueprints we drew before are still here. The prefect can take them."

The group moved to the main hall of the thatched cottage. Xi Zhong stopped and pointed to the lintel, saying, "Fengzhi, there should be a plaque hanging here. Have you thought of a name for it?"

Xie Hong smiled and said, "What Master Xi says is true. I have already asked Mr. Zhichuan to write the name for me, and it will be called He Louju (meaning 'Humble Abode')."

"What a humble dwelling!" Xi Zhong read it aloud and nodded repeatedly. "This is a good name. The Analects says, 'Where a gentleman dwells, there is no such thing as a humble dwelling.' Good, good, good. No one can match Ge Zhichuan's flying white calligraphy. He should be the one to write it down."

Ge Hong chuckled and said, "Master Xi is mistaken. The phrase 'He Lou' does not come from the Analects."

Xi Zhong was taken aback: "Where did that come from?"

Zhou Guang immediately smiled and recited Xie Hong's "Ode to a Humble Abode" aloud. Xi Zhong's eyes lit up: "Where is it? Quickly bring it here so I can read it."

Xi Xuan, who was originally following at the back of the crowd, heard Zhou Guang's recitation and her eyes brightened. She softly recited, "This is a humble abode, but my virtue makes it fragrant."

Then her gaze fell on Xie Hong's profile, and she suddenly curled her lip. What an arrogant scoundrel! You're not even sixteen, where do you get your morals? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?

Having received his instructions, Chen San retrieved Xie Hong's "Ode to a Humble Abode." Xi Zhong was immediately captivated by it and turned to Xi Xuan, asking, "My daughter, are you ashamed?"

Xi Xuan's gaze was fixed on the words and she couldn't look away.

Xie Hong's brushstrokes are slender and his structure is unrestrained. He seems to exert no effort, but he has his own style.

Her teacher was Wei Shuo, also known as Wei Maoyi, who is one of the most famous calligraphers of our time.

Wei Shuo was Lady Wei. Her regular script was elegant and graceful, incorporating the delicate aesthetics unique to women into her calligraphy. She broke away from the heavy and archaic feel of the clerical script of the Han and Wei periods. She was the first female calligrapher in Chinese history with clear records. Wang Xizhi also studied under her.

Xi Xuan was later hailed as a female master calligrapher, which speaks volumes about her skill. However, at this time, she was only sixteen years old and had just begun learning calligraphy. The difference between her work and Xie Hong's was obvious.

For a moment, Xi Xuan was somewhat bewildered.

She has two things she is most proud of in her life.

Qin (a type of zither), calligraphy!

She couldn't sleep all night after Xie Hong completely outshone her on the zither. Now, even her calligraphy is inferior to Xie Hong's.

She looked at Xie Hong with a hint of resentment, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. But Xie Hong was talking to Zhou Guang and didn't notice her, so she swallowed her words back, her face only growing colder than before.

Xiao Xi Yin was most afraid of writing, but his older sister forced him to write every day, morning and night. He found it very difficult, so he never went near his older sister.

She originally thought she could avoid it, but Xi Xuan was unhappy, so how could she let her younger brother be happy?

"Guest, you have arrived."

Little Xi Yin was following Xie Hong around like a little adult, pretending to understand what the adults were saying. But in reality, his ears had already been perked up.

Upon hearing his elder sister's voice, his face immediately fell, and he dejectedly moved to Xi Xuan's side.

"Sister."

Xi Xuan handed the hemp paper in her hand to Xi Yin: "You should learn from it, but you must not be lazy."

Xiao Xi Yin looked at Xie Hong and pleaded for help.

Before Xie Hong could speak, Xi Xuan added, "Young Master Xie's calligraphy is truly excellent. I would like to request a calligraphy scroll for my younger brother. How about copying the Analects of Confucius?"

Xie Hong felt his scalp tingle.

I have no idea how to copy the Analects.

Yes, this girl must be getting revenge on me.

He has loved calligraphy since childhood, and the calligraphy he copied were masterpieces from the Tang and Song dynasties. The Jin dynasty was the period when Han clerical script was transformed into running script. In fact, if we really talk about the quality of calligraphy, we can only say that each has its own style and cannot be compared with later generations.

Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi are naturally an anomaly.

"Zifang, I have to criticize you. The child is still young, and you can't force him to grow too fast."

Xi Xuan's face turned bright red instantly.

What a lecherous man! How can he call someone by their name in public?

Xi Zhong looked at Xie Hong with surprise: "How did Feng Zhi know my daughter's given name? And what does 'pulling up seedlings to help them grow' mean?"

Xie Hong didn't speak; he didn't know how to explain.

Ge Hong laughed and said, "Master Xi, Fengzhi's words are always novel. Aren't you used to it? This story should come from Mencius. There was a man from Song who was worried that his seedlings were not growing well, so he pulled them up. He returned home exhausted and said to his family, 'I am so tired today. I helped the seedlings grow.' His son rushed to check on them and found that the seedlings had withered. Fengzhi is good at extracting the essence of things. It is wonderful."

Xi Zhong, Zhou Guang, and Tao Mao were greatly impressed.

No wonder he was able to refute three famous scholars at such a young age.

"I see. Fengzhi, you still haven't answered me how you knew my daughter's name."

Xie Hong feigned madness: "Lord Xi, haven't you forgotten? Didn't you tell me?"

Xi Zhong was taken aback, then gave Xi Xuan a meaningful look: "Is that so?"

Xie Hong replied decisively: "Absolutely."

"Oh, oh, oh, look at how sharp my memory is, hehehe."

He thought Xie Hong was shameless, so he secretly asked Xi Xuan, who liked Xie Hong, and then told him.

The secret between the young couple was unintentionally exposed by themselves.

He has to take the blame.