Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 98 Flowing Wine Cups on a Winding Stream
However, compared to the stream, the most eye-catching feature is a square inkstone pool about ten feet in size next to it. The water in the pool is dark and ink-colored, and the moss on the stacked stones on the pool's edge is mottled, clearly caused by years of being soaked in ink.

Lu Beigu and several classmates from Hejiang County sat down one after another behind a few bluestone tables next to an old plum tree. This plum tree was probably decades old, with branches as hard as iron. Although it was not in bloom, it still had a strong and vigorous character.

He noticed that Su Zhe and the other two were by the white stone by the water, while Fang Wei, along with the Rongzhou students, occupied the most spacious spot in front of the pavilion on the east side, pointing and gesturing at them.

"Master Lu."

Someone patted Lu Beigu on the shoulder from behind. He turned around and saw that it was none other than Zhou Mingyuan. It seemed that he was one of the very few senior students who were invited this year.

The poem Zhou Mingyuan had prepared had already been revised in his previous letters, so there was no need for further discussion.

"Brother Zhou, please have a seat."

After the students were all seated, Professor Jiang also took his seat at the head of the table, but the head seat was empty.

Professor Jiang signaled to the musicians to play the "Deer Cry" movement.

Amidst the sounds of zither and lute, servants were already carrying wooden trays filled with wine cups, ready to be placed into the upstream stream at any time.

"Today, the new students of the state schools of Meizhou, Jiaxing, Rongzhou and Luzhou, along with the teachers and senior students of our state, have gathered here to welcome the new students. It can be said that 'all the wise men and women have come together, young and old.' As the host, I will now explain to you the rules and rewards of this year's welcome gathering."

"At this year's New Year's gathering, during the 'Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream' activity, those who can answer the questions correctly will be allowed to spend a day reading on the first to third floors of the library."

Hearing this, the crowd didn't react much. The smooth flow of the water was a matter of luck; whoever the cup landed in front of had to answer, and not everyone had a chance. The reward, however, was quite reasonable—neither good nor bad, and even students from out of state could receive it without wasting much of their time.

In other words, this segment is basically just a warm-up activity.

"The ranking test will be set by Mr. Baisha. The top five students can choose their teachers freely if they are new students from Luzhou, and can receive their awards from the state schools of Meizhou, Rongzhou, and Jiaxing if they are new students from those states."

Although all four prefectures are located along the Yangtze River waterway, their economic and cultural levels differ. Luzhou is the most prosperous, followed by Meizhou, while Jiaozhou has Mount Emei to its name, and Rongzhou has a rather poor and remote feel.

But precisely because of this, in order to make things look good, these students from other state schools who were sent to participate in the welcoming gatherings were often promised substantial rewards by their own state schools.

As the saying goes, "A great reward will surely bring forth brave men," and they will strive to be among the top five for the rewards offered by their respective state schools.

"The first-place winner may borrow books from the fourth floor of the library for three days."

Jiang Zicheng made the final announcement.

This statement sparked a heated discussion.

Because Luzhou Prefectural School was expanded from the academies inherited from the Tang Dynasty, it has a long history and a large collection of books.

Luzhou itself is the most prosperous prefecture in southern Sichuan because it has important tributaries of the Yangtze River such as the Tuojiang River and Anlexi River within its territory. As a waterway hub connecting western and eastern Sichuan, it also occupies the world-famous Yujing River. The developed economy, in turn, led to greater investment in culture and education. After the establishment of the prefectural school, a large number of books were purchased.

Lu Beigu asked Zhou Mingyuan in a low voice, "Brother Zhou, how does the library of the Luzhou Prefectural School compare to yours?"

Zhou Mingyuan was taken aback at first, then felt a little embarrassed and said, "How dare fireflies compete with the bright moon? The books in the Luzhou State Academy Library are enough to support anyone who wants to pass the imperial examination."

"And although printing technology is much better than before and books are not so expensive, individual households cannot compare with the financial resources of government schools, and they can't possibly buy as many books as the government schools. You may not understand the financial resources of Luzhou State School. Think about it, how much does it cost to provide so many students with three meals a day for free every year, and to make sure they eat well?" "Where does this money come from?" Lu Guangyu, who was standing next to him, asked curiously.

“County schools have their own school lands, and so do state schools. Luzhou State School itself is one of the largest landowners in Luzhou, possessing countless fertile fields. However, it's not like they can just freeload forever. If someone is in the lower-class dormitory for five consecutive years, they will be advised to withdraw from the school.”

"I see."

Lu Beigu nodded thoughtfully. "I knew it. How could Luzhou State Academy, a place that adheres to the principle of survival of the fittest, possibly support idle people?"
Seeing that the freshmen had finished discussing, Jiang Zicheng leaned back and said with a smile.

"Now that everything is clear, let's begin. Write a seven-character quatrain on the theme of 'Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream,' using the rhyme scheme of the eighth character '庚,' and limit your thinking time to nine breaths."

The servant placed the wooden tray containing the wine cups into the stream, and the stream began to drift downstream along the specially made winding channel, before finally stopping at the pavilion for the first time.

Fang Wei took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, then rose and recited:
"The winding stream flows with jade cups, and scholars gather in Penglai."

Life is fleeting, like a cup of wine drifting on the stream; let us listen to the murmuring sound of water rinsing the rocks.

The poem itself is not particularly outstanding, and it even seems like it was hastily put together because no suitable words could be thought of. However, the "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream" activity is just a warm-up, mainly testing quick wit. So as long as you can rhyme and answer without too much trouble, that's fine.

The servants placed the wine cups back on, and the wooden tray continued to float downstream, drifting straight to the shallow bay under the plum tree.

Lu Beigu felt dozens of gazes shooting towards him, especially the intense gazes of the local students from Luzhou—they all wanted to know just how good Lu Beigu, the rumored top scorer in Hejiang, really was.

"Brother Zhou, you go ahead and change the rhyme of the poem you prepared earlier."

Unfortunately, just as Lu Beigu was whispering to Zhou Mingyuan, the wooden plate swirled along the stream and continued to drift downstream.

Zhou Mingyuan was so angry he wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet in relief that he had guessed the question correctly! He was just waiting to show off!
The welcoming gathering only takes place at Luzhou State Academy once every four years, and most people don't even know where it is. Zhou Mingyuan only managed to get the information from the servants who were setting up the venue not long ago, which is why he thought of making a prediction.

Well, he has never lacked money since he was a child, but because he comes from a merchant family, he has become more and more obsessed with becoming famous after he started studying.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

When the wooden disc came to a stop for the second time, it happened to float right in front of Su Zhe.

Su Zhe calmly took the cup, but did not rush to drink it. Instead, he gazed at his reflection in the water for a moment and then spoke slowly.

"The winding stream reflects the vast emptiness, revealing the clear sky; the spring breeze arrives early at the Purple Crape Myrtle City."

Who could have known that the wise men of this enlightened age held such profound intentions, their essence found in the sound of their hats being washed in the Canglang River?

Professor Jiang stroked his beard and nodded, and even Fang Wei, who had just been hostile to Su Zhe, couldn't help but change his expression.

Su Zhe's poem is indeed much better in its conception than Fang Wei's poem. It is clearly written by an upright gentleman, and its wording and artistic conception are impeccable. It can be called a good poem.

(End of this chapter)