Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 96 Is the world really that small?

Lu Beigu woke up as dawn broke.

He got up quietly, careful not to disturb his roommate who was still fast asleep. By the dim light coming through the window, he saw Zhu Zhen curled up in the thin blanket, while Lu Guangyu lay sprawled out. The sound of even breathing came from Huang Jingji's bed.

Lu Guangyu seemed to sense the movement, woke up and glanced at him.

"Don't forget the welcoming gathering. You'll hear the bells ringing at the state school at the hour later, so remember to do so."

After giving a responsible instruction, Lu Beigu quickly washed up in a wooden basin filled with water next to the bookshelf near the door, and then went out for his morning reading as usual.

A while later, they ran into Zhu Nanxing, who was just coming out of the door.

"Brother Lu, would you like to come to the dining hall together?"

Although Zhu Nanxing's round face still showed signs of sleepiness, he was much more energetic. It was just a matter of whether the students assigned to the same dormitory as him could stand it, because Lu Beigu could hear his thunderous snoring even through a thick wall.

"Right on my mind."

Birds chirped nearby, while the distant echoes of the city's morning bell resounded.

The two walked south along the bluestone path in the morning mist. The green bamboo by the roadside was covered with dew, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees and the faint smell of cooking smoke.

I must say, the environment at the state school is really great.

The dining hall is a large courtyard with three sections. Even before entering, you can hear a lot of voices inside.

"Hey, Brother Lu? When did you arrive?"

Just then, Ji Yun suddenly appeared from the side, looking at Lu Beigu in surprise.

"You came yesterday."

Ji Yun slapped his thigh: "Perfect, then I'll take you out to eat. Did you bring your mahjong lessons?"

"Bring it."

"Alright, let's eat here in the first courtyard."

After crossing the high threshold, Lu Beigu's vision suddenly opened up.

In the main hall of the first courtyard, dozens of long black lacquered tables are neatly arranged, each seating four people. On the east side is the window for distributing meals, where several servants wearing blue headscarves are busy distributing food utensils.

The most eye-catching feature is the menu pasted on the large vermilion pillars inside the hall.

—"The lower quarters: millet porridge, mustard greens, and steamed buns."

"Just follow me." Ji Yun led them to line up, familiar with the area.

Steam rose from the window, and a large wooden bucket was filled with golden millet porridge. Next to it, bamboo baskets were piled with freshly steamed flatbreads, which were white, plump, and soft like clouds.

The servant in charge of serving the dishes saw that it was Ji Yun and specially scooped an extra spoonful into his bowl.

"Young Master Ji, eat more so you can grow taller."

"Oh well, I know!" Ji Yun said, a little annoyed.

After checking their student IDs and receiving breakfast, they found a table to sit down, and Lu Beigu introduced Ji Yun and Zhu Nanxing to each other.

After Zhu Nanxing greeted him, he opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask Lu Beigu how he knew so many close friends at the state school, but in the end he was too embarrassed to ask.

In fact, his classmates, who also came from Hejiang County, were all quite envious of Lu Beigu's good interpersonal relationships.
Lu Beigu turned his head to observe the surroundings and noticed that the students in the hall were naturally divided into several groups. He then asked Ji Yun in a low voice and finally confirmed their identities.

In the west corner sat seven or eight veteran students like Ji Yun, quietly eating their meal; at the tables in the middle were mostly freshmen from the other two counties in the state, chatting in twos and threes; while the brightest spot under the east window was occupied by several students from other states, whose specific states Ji Yun couldn't recognize.

One particularly thin boy stood out – he sat alone with a book open in front of him, which he didn't even put down while eating, so he ate very slowly.

"I wonder if it's Su Zhe?"

According to Song Dynasty notes, Su Zhe was weak from childhood, suffering from chest ailments and poor digestion. His personality was also quite different from that of his elder brother, Su Shi; one was like still waters running deep, while the other was like oil being poured into a raging fire.

Lu Beigu was not a socially anxious person, so he decided to have a chat after dinner. After all, Master Baoyue must know the Su brothers, so he had a reason to do so and it wouldn't be presumptuous.

To be honest, Lu Beigu was still very curious about these famous people of his age in this era.

When modern people see these names, they often think of their achievements. But it's important to know that there are significant differences between a person in their youth and in middle and old age, especially since these celebrities haven't yet achieved fame or experienced the harsh realities of life, and this is when they often show their most authentic selves.

Putting aside his worries for the moment, Lu Beigu focused on enjoying his food.

After settling them in last night, Han Ziyu treated them to a meal out as a hospitable host, but it was a bit greasy. Now, drinking porridge is much better.

The millet porridge was smooth and creamy, though it didn't have much flavor, but the crisp and refreshing pickled mustard greens made up for it. As for the steamed buns, they were just enough to fill you up.

After finishing his meal in no time, Lu Beigu was about to get up when he suddenly saw a group of newly arrived students passing by him and heading towards the window.

A square-faced student, accompanied by his companion, looked down at the thin boy and said, "This is the top student from Meishan County in Meizhou? He doesn't look that impressive."

The dining hall became quieter for a moment.

In that instant, Lu Beigu suddenly felt that ever since he got rid of He Cong, that clueless guy, the whole world seemed to become much more normal to him.

However, abnormal people do exist everywhere, especially when everyone is a hot-blooded teenager.

The thin young man calmly swallowed the porridge in his mouth, raised his eyes to meet the other's provocative gaze: "My name is Su Zhe. May I ask your name?"

“Fang Wei of Rongzhou,” the square-faced student said proudly.

"Is your brother Fang Jing?"

"Since you've already guessed it, then I'll be frank: this year I will avenge my brother."

It sounds like a feud, so Fang Wei's elder brother, Fang Jing, must have been a freshman in the same year as Su Shi and Han Ziyu.

This makes sense. Su Zhe is seventeen years old this year, and Su Shi is three years older than him, making him twenty. Han Ziyu also mentioned that the welcoming gathering he attended was three years ago.

Fang Wei's voice rose, but before he could continue, someone patted him on the shoulder.

"Shh, whatever your grudges are, go outside and talk about it. Don't disturb everyone's meal."

Fang Wei turned his head and found that Lu Beigu behind him was a full half head taller than him, and his calm eyes showed no emotion whatsoever.

Fang Wei was, after all, a guest from afar. Looking at Lu Beigu, whose identity he did not know, he did not know if the other party was a local bully from the Luzhou State School. But since Lu Beigu dared to step forward to stop him from making a loud noise, and since he was in the wrong, Fang Wei did not dare to argue anymore.

The expressions of the people next to him also changed, but in the end no one said anything and reluctantly lined up to get porridge.

"Thank you for helping me out of that predicament."

Su Zhe bowed respectfully.

"You're too kind." Lu Beigu returned the greeting, his gaze lingering on the slender and frail young man for a moment. "I had heard Master Baoyue mention the Su brothers of Meishan before, and seeing them today, I can see they are indeed extraordinary."

Su Zhe was somewhat surprised. Was it someone their elder brother knew?

"May I ask your name, brother?"

"Lu Beigu, Hejiang County, Luzhou".

A look of realization flashed across Su Zhe's eyes, but the words he uttered were something Lu Beigu had not anticipated.

“My father heard from Minister Zhang that Lu Beigu of Luzhou is a rare talent in the world, especially skilled in governing the country and benefiting the people. After my father returned, he often told my brother and me to learn these practical skills in governing the country, just like Lu Beigu, so that we can serve the country in the future.”

Is the world really that small?
This butterfly effect left Lu Beigu somewhat bewildered and amused.

However, after careful consideration, Lu Beigu realized that Su Xun, also known as Su Laoquan, did indeed know Zhang Fangping. Zhang Fangping had shown Su Xun great favor and seemed to have recommended him for a position as an academic official in Chengdu, but the court did not approve it.

"You flatter me, Master Zhang."

Lu Beigu said modestly.

Just then, a loud bell rang out from outside the dining hall, and a gentleman stood at the door and announced loudly, "Those who are going to the New Year's gathering, please gather in the main hall."

Seeing this, they knew that the people from Meizhou hadn't finished eating yet.

The other two people volunteered their names: Cheng Jianyong and Yang Yaozi.

Lu Beigu didn't say much, but cupped his hands in greeting to them, saying, "Let's continue at the gathering."

As Lu Beigu passed by the middle tables, he noticed that several students from Luzhou, but from Luchuan County and Jiang'an County, were looking at him thoughtfully.

Clearly, they had heard of Lu Beigu, the top scorer in the county examination this year in Hejiang County, and for them, Lu Beigu was indeed a direct competitor. At least the new students from Mei, Rong, and Jia prefectures, although they also ranked and received other awards at the welcoming gathering, would not actually compete with them for the right to choose the prefectural school teacher.

Their eyes met, and Lu Beigu nodded to the new students from other counties in Luzhou. Neither side showed any obvious hostility.

Before long, Zhu Zhen, Lu Guangyu, and Huang Jingji, who had heard the bell, also got up, washed up, and came to the dining hall.

Where there are people, there are circles. After a simple free breakfast, everyone spontaneously formed teams according to their hometowns. In Luzhou, teams were basically formed by county, while the freshmen from Meizhou, Rongzhou, and Jiaxing seemed to be formed by prefecture because there were fewer of them.

Only a very small number of senior students attend the annual welcome gathering, and Ji Yun was not among them. So after saying goodbye to them, he went to the lecture hall to teach.

Soon, the dozens of people who were going to participate in this year's New Year's Gathering had all gathered in front of the main hall of the State Academy.

At this moment, Jiang Zicheng, the professor of Luzhou State School and the official in charge of managing the state school, appeared before them surrounded by a group of state school officials.

The state university professor looked to be around fifty years old, with graying temples.

He glanced casually at the new students from Meizhou, Rongzhou, Jiaxing, and Luzhou this year, and said, "Follow me to the Confucius Temple. This year's welcoming gathering will be held behind the Confucius Temple."

(End of this chapter)