Chapter 45: The Story-writing Scholar
When he woke up in the early morning, it was particularly chilly outside.
Song You borrowed the boatman’s fishing pole and sat in the place where the boatman had sat last night, wearing the cloak given by Prefect Yu. The cold air rose from the river in front of him, the mist-covered water was silent, and the surroundings were quiet. The fishing line extended into the water, occasionally creating small ripples that were hard to notice in the fog.
Looking around, he saw green mountains everywhere.
The other boat passengers either stayed inside the boat or were still sleeping. Only Lady Calico sat quietly and properly on his lap, her eyes fixed on the point where the fishing line met the water.
The boatman had already started cooking breakfast.
“What should we do if we don't catch anything?” Song You turned his head and quietly asked the cat.
Lady Calico raised her head at his words, her eyes very calm. After a moment, she lowered her head and raised her paw to lick it.
Song You did not understand what she meant.
There was a pounding sound behind him. It was the boatman chopping fish bones.
Lady Calico’s ears twitched at the sound. She then raised her head and softly said to him. “It doesn't matter if we don't catch anything.”
Song You heard it but his expression was still very calm.
But he suddenly thought of a question…
Lady Calico usually could only catch mice at night. If she didn't manage to catch birds or insects etc. during the day, or if no one came to offer her food, what did she eat before she met him? In any case, he had never heard Lady Calico complain about hunger. He had always thought it was because he prepared food in time and she could also get food from elsewhere. Now it seems that it might not be like that.
“What if you are hungry?”
“I am used to being hungry.”
“Hmm...” Song You lifted the fishing rod, and a silver-white flash left the water, pulled by the line. It landed precisely in his hand.
“Got one.” This fish was Lady Calico’s breakfast.
At the same time, a voice came from behind. “What a refined and elegant attitude of mind, Mister.”
No need to guess, it was that scholar surnamed Fu.
Footsteps quickly approached from behind.
“Fishing in the cold river, gazing at the mountains, conversing with a cat…how many people wish to have such interests like you, but lack this frame of mind.” The footsteps stopped behind Song You. Seeing him retract the rod, the scholar was curious, “You just caught this sharpbelly, why stop fishing?”
“It's enough for the cat.”
“Wonderful!”
The scholar carried another folding stool over and sat beside Song You, “Since you came from Lingquan County, did you pass through Yidu on the way?”
“Yidu is prosperous, so I naturally had to visit.”
“Indeed. I've traveled extensively for many years and have seldom seen a city as prosperous and enlightened as Yidu.” The scholar paused briefly. “Except for Yangcheng, I haven't been to Changjing yet.”
“How was Yangcheng?”
“Ten li of spring breezes, myriad twinkling lights, dream-like prosperity.”
“Then I should visit.” Song You put away the fishing rod and returned it to its original place.
The scholar stood and turned to look at him, “I haven't asked yet where you are headed?”
“I’m traveling the world, temporarily with no fixed destination.”
“Haha! Life should be like that!” The scholar couldn’t help raising his eyebrows, and clapping in delight. He felt this gentleman was very much to his liking.
“But why are you going to Lingbo?”
“To deliver a letter on behalf of an old man selling tea I met on the way.”
“Just to deliver a letter?”
“I don’t know where to go.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!”
The scholar couldn't help but clap his hands, then shook his head, “It's a pity I've already been out for a long time on this trip, otherwise I should accompany you on your journey!”
“Perhaps we will meet again if it’s fated.”
“Oh, right…” The scholar seemed to remember something just then, “Since you passed through Yidu, did you hear about the notorious case of the earth-traversing burglar in Yidu last year? And the affair concerning the master from Taian Temple that the people are abuzz with?”
Song You glanced down at Lady Calico who was eating the fish, and calmly replied. “I've heard about it.”
“Could you tell me about it?”
“Haven't you already heard about it?”
“Indeed, I have.” The scholar sighed, “But I only heard people discussing some of it in the teahouse. Even after paying money for tea, I didn't get the full story, which is quite a regret.”
Song You couldn't help but glance at him, “You really are a fan of such stories...”
“To be honest, it's my greatest hobby. Besides this, I'm also compiling a book, currently untitled, which will include all the mystical and fantastic events in the world. Ideally real and interesting ones. That's why I'm so eager to collect such stories.”
“I see.”
“Haha, I’m not worried you’ll laugh at me!” The scholar actually laughed as he spoke, “I’ve had little interest in classical studies or political essays since childhood. I'm still very dull even though I’ve studied them up till now. It's unlikely I'll ever pass the provincial level imperial exam in this lifetime. If this book comes together successfully, firstly I would have completed something I’ve always wanted to do. Secondly, though it may not be a work worthy of pride or even considered high culture, it could perhaps let me leave my name behind in history like the high-ranking court officials of past dynasties.”
Hearing this, Song You thought seriously about it, and he thought it might indeed be possible.
As the scholar said, such books were only considered miscellaneous works in this era, not high culture, and were even scorned by some old Confucian scholars. Some writers wouldn't even use their names for fear of losing face. Yet these books were widely popular in this era, much more so than the famous classics.
And there weren't many similar books on the market.
A book like Chronicles of Peach and Plum Seasons, though not well-written and containing many esoteric elements only comprehensible to Daoists, still quickly became popular across the country.
Why?
Everyone was interested in such stories, but there were too few who could write them well.
If this scholar wrote well, it could indeed be passed down through the ages.
Song You naturally didn't have the decadent mindset of this era and didn't disdain such miscellaneous books. Thinking about it carefully, being able to contribute to a book that could be passed down for a thousand years was quite interesting. Even if by the time it reached future generations, he would already long be nothing more than a pile of white bones and yellow dust.
Coincidentally, he had listened to Old Mr. Zhang tell a section in detail at the Cloud Talk Canopy in the Northern Market before leaving.
“I have many such stories.”
“How fortunate that the journey ahead is still long.”
“Telling them will take a long time.”
“Let's drink to it!”
“On one condition.”
“Please state it, Mister.”
“I'll tell one story, and you must tell one as well, so we are even and owe each other nothing.”
“Deal!”
“I'll start with the earth-traversing burglar.”
“I’m all ears.”
“This story begins several years ago. The burglar’s surname was Mo, he lived outside Yidu in Lotus Village, and was originally a down-and-out scholar...”
Song You's voice was not loud, he spoke softly.
He roughly followed Old Mr. Zhang’s story structure, recalling it from memory, naturally infusing it with his own style. At the same time, he omitted Old Mr. Zhang’s storytelling techniques and interjections. It became more like an ordinary neighbor sitting under the banyan tree at the village entrance during dusk telling you a story that happened close to him not long ago.
The scholar was mesmerized, deeply immersed in the story.
Even the family of three couldn't help but sit in the cabin and listen. The little girl widened her big, dark eyes, likely there was a world full of mysterious wonders in her heart.
Just as he finished, the aroma of porridge filled the air. They ate breakfast first.
The clear porridge was bland, yet just right for the cold morning on the river.
After breakfast, it was the scholar's turn to tell a story.
“During my travels in Yangzhou, I once heard a story from a recluse on a high mountain.”
“Please go ahead.”
“A few hundred years ago, Yangzhou was far less prosperous than it is now. It was even occupied by a great demon, and all the mountains away from the roads were its hunting grounds. Mountain demons even often descended to harm people. During the final years of the previous dynasty, amidst political chaos and the dire poverty of the people, a Daoist passed through, bearing a green jade sword. He battled the demon on Heidu Mountain for six months and finally slew it with his sword, bringing peace to Yangzhou.”
Due to a lack of details, the scholar's story was much briefer. “And that Daoist priest was said to have come from Hidden Dragon Temple. As for where Hidden Dragon Temple is, the story did not say, and no one knows. I heard the name of Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain in another story and boldly guessed it might be the same temple.”
“Alright.” Song You displayed a helpless expression.
Subconsciously trying to recall, he couldn't remember any grandmaster who was skilled with the sword a few hundred years ago.
However, it didn't matter.
It might be a mistake in the story, perhaps a grandmaster might have spent some time learning to use the sword after descending the mountain, or he might not have remembered clearly. All were common occurrences.
The main point was that he actually wasn't very interested in listening.
Past owners of Hidden Dragon Temple rarely left records of their travels, and even Song You's master seldom talked to him about her youthful experiences, fearing it would influence future generations. Everyone should have their own unique path. As for grandmasters that he had never met from far too long ago, they were not much different from strangers to Song You.
“What do you think of this story, Mister?”
“The story is grand, but not interesting.”
“Hah! I didn't expect you’ll happen to agree with me!” The scholar laughed, “I have a cousin who usually loves to request stories from me. He prefers this type. The grander the story, the more gods and Buddhas, the stronger the magic powers the characters have, the more he finds it interesting. He doesn’t care about anything else. However, I don't quite like this.”
Song You thought for a moment and knew this scholar must have specially told a story concerning Hidden Dragon Temple because he knew Song You was from Lingquan County and had heard of it.
“No need to tell any more stories about Hidden Dragon Temple.”
“What kind do you like?”
“Interesting ones.”
“Then we’ll not count the one I told just now and I’ll compensate you with another story!”
“No need to go that far.”
“No need to be polite. Since I’m compiling these stories into a book, I don’t lack one or two stories. Out on the road, everyone we meet are all strangers, so it’s best to be unconstrained.”
“You’re right.”
Song You no longer stopped him, he just looked at the little girl at the side.
The little girl was listening to their stories while playing with the water at the side of the boat. Suddenly, she seemed to be attracted by a light in the water, and leaned over the boat’s edge to get a closer look.
An enormous dark shadow was swimming indistinctly underwater.
Song You tapped the boat's edge with his finger, catching the little girl's attention. He smiled, and reminded her not to play with the water. After she sat back properly, he relaxed. Glancing at the river, the dark shadow had already disappeared.
As they talked, the light boat had already passed countless mountains.
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